Scientists discover new hair loss gene. Promising new baldness treatments may be on the horizon.

by Dave Solazzo / Staff Writer

According to researchers in London, the discovery of a gene associated with a rare form of hair loss could lead to the development of new drugs to treat baldness. The identified gene causes a condition know as Hypertricosis simplex. It affects 1 in 200,000 people causing them to begin losing hair in childhood. The hair loss is thought to be triggered by a gene mutation that causes a defect in hair follicle growth receptors. ” There is a very good chance of developing a therapy to treat hair loss based on this finding, ” reported Regina Betz, the study’s leader and researcher at the Institute of Human Genetics.

The researchers gathered data by studying DNA samples from 11 members of a Saudi Arabian family afflicted with the condition. They believe that their findings will lead to the creation of effective treatments for many different types of hair loss. The findings were reported in the journal Nature Genetics.